Pot is in, and social conservatism is out at CPAC

John Murdock has an apt analysis of last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). In short, he says that pot was in and that social conservatism was out.

Traditionally, the conservative coalition has been concieved as a three-legged stool: social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and foreign policy conservatives. Murdock says that the social conservative leg was missing at CPAC and that Libertarianism is on the rise.

There were no sessions devoted to pro-life issues. Nor were there any sessions given to advance a traditional view of marriage. These staples of social conservatism simply weren’t on the agenda. Nor were they major emphases of the headline speakers–not even of those who are potential contenders for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.

Murdock concludes:

Both in what was said and what wasn’t, there was often more evidence of friction than fusionism. This gathering shows no signs of going away, but, in the long run, whether social conservatives will be content with just a seat at the CPAC kid’s table remains to be seen.

3 Responses to Pot is in, and social conservatism is out at CPAC

This dovetails with the link you shared the other day saying that Milllenials are far more supportive of gay marriage than their grandparents. From that study: “Today, nearly 7-in-10 (69%) Millennials (ages 18 to 33) favor same-sex marriage, compared to 37% of Americans who are part of the Silent Generation (ages 68 and older).” CPAC tilts heavily toward 20 and 30 somethings. In that light it isn’t surprising. I don’t know what’s going to become of that 3 legged stool, at least over the intermediate term.

They’re being shrewd and not emphasizing those issues. You can sure most of the speakers were pro-life, anti-same-sex-marriage, etc. They just chose to emphasize other issues on which there is more agreement.

You’ll know social conservatism is dead at CPAC when they invite GOProud back and/or have a speaker who is publicly pro-same-sex-marriage and/or pro-choice.